| Abstrakt: |
The Himalayan Terai forests are the major habitat for a variety of terrestrial biodiversity, with distinct extents of ecosystems, abundance and distribution of species and coverage of protected areas. This lowland region is mainly characterised by tall grasslands, scrub savannah, Sal forests, wetlands, and swamps. The Terai eco-region, shared by India and Nepal, is one of the prominent areas of India from a biodiversity point of view. It is situated along the foothills of the central Himalaya, in the north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, with a forest covers of ca. 10,000 km2 in India. The Terai eco-region contains dense forests, savannahs and grasslands, providing critical habitats for many endangered large mammals, including tigers, elephants and rhinoceroses. Currently, the forest of this region is losing its biodiversity because of natural and anthropogenic factors. Because of the high agricultural productivity of the Terai areas, rising aspirations for better living conditions, development activities, industries and road & rail networks, the degradation and fragmentation of these forests have increased in recent years. This paper presents key issues and management strategies for the conservation of the Himalayan Terai forests of India, along with some suggestions to overcome the impacts of natural and anthropogenic disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
